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Beijing - Once seen as food for the poor, the humble potato is
being pushed in China as a tasty, nutritious part of any meal as the world's
most populous country struggles with water shortages and looks for alternatives
to the traditional rice and noodles.

China already produces 95 million tonnes of potatoes a year, a
quarter of the global total, and is aiming to raise that to 130 million tonnes
by 2020, government officials said at the World Potato Congress on the
outskirts of Beijing this week.

"In China, the potato industry is no longer an industry for
underdeveloped areas or the poor, but highlights the country's modern
agricultural drive and enriches people's dining tables," Agriculture
Minister Han Changfu told the conference.

Beijing has begun this year to promote the potato as more of a
staple food, particularly as a substitute foodstuff for grain, an idea that has
taken on urgency as water problems threaten to undermine food security, vital
for political legitimacy.

The North China Plain is suffering as a result of decades of
excessive underground water use by both industry and wheat farmers.

In some parts of Hebei, the third-largest wheat-producing region,
farmers have been banned from growing wheat in order to preserve underground
water. Excessive digging for irrigation has caused subsidence and even
landslides, the local government has said.

David A Thompson, president of the World Potato Congress, told
reporters that potatoes would serve China's plans to improve agricultural
sustainability.

"Potatoes provide more energy and protein per acre than other
crops," he said.

The congress was held in Yanqing, a suburb of Beijing around 100km
northwest of the city centre, where a 12 000-square-metre international potato
centre has been built along with a museum for the vegetable and a potato
breeding centre.

"Small potatoes, stand up and become a staple to ensure the
country's grain security," urges a banner outside the museum.

In an exhibition hall, potatoes are used to make dozens of different
types of food, including popular local fare such as steamed bread, noodles and
dumplings as well as western-style pizza and even cookies.

"Potatoes can make hundreds or even thousands of dishes, as
well as more than 200 types of staple and western-style food," said Zhang
Aiguo, a cook at the exhibition.

"If more and more consumers get to know that potatoes have
more nutrition, they are willing to take them. People nowadays care more about
quality and healthy food," said Zhang, holding a big plate of steamed
bread made with potatoes.

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